berimbau: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Specific-Cultural
Quick answer
What does “berimbau” mean?
A musical instrument of African origin, used prominently in the Brazilian martial art of capoeira.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A musical instrument of African origin, used prominently in the Brazilian martial art of capoeira.
A single-string percussion instrument consisting of a wooden bow, a steel string, a hollow gourd resonator, and a beater (baqueta). It provides the foundational rhythm for capoeira, dictating the style and speed of the game.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No orthographic or lexical differences. The word is used identically but is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Strong, specific association with Brazilian culture, capoeira, and the African diaspora.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency in general English. Its use is confined to contexts discussing Brazilian music, culture, or martial arts.
Grammar
How to Use “berimbau” in a Sentence
[Subject] plays [the] berimbau.The berimbau [sets/establishes/dictates] the [rhythm/tempo].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “berimbau” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The berimbau rhythm is unmistakable.
- He is a master of berimbau music.
American English
- The berimbau rhythm is unmistakable.
- He specializes in berimbau acoustics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely unlikely.
Academic
Used in ethnomusicology, cultural studies, or anthropology papers on Brazilian/Afro-Brazilian culture.
Everyday
Virtually never used unless discussing capoeira or specific world music.
Technical
Used precisely in the contexts of capoeira instruction, instrument making, or ethnomusicological description.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “berimbau”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “berimbau”
- Pronouncing it as /'ber.ɪm.bɔː/ (like 'beau'). Correct: /-ˈbaʊ/ (like 'bow').
- Using it as a countable noun without 'the' or an article (e.g., 'He plays berimbau'). Correct: 'He plays *the* berimbau.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword from Portuguese used in English contexts discussing Brazilian culture. It is not a core English vocabulary item.
While accurate generically, in the context of capoeira, the specific term 'berimbau' is always used. 'Musical bow' lacks the cultural specificity.
Yes, producing a clear tone and mastering the complex rhythmic patterns (toques) requires significant practice, similar to learning a melodic percussion instrument.
The main parts are: the 'verga' (wooden bow), the 'arame' (steel string), the 'cabaça' (hollow gourd resonator), the 'baqueta' (wooden stick beater), and the 'dobrão' or 'pedra' (coin or stone used to press the string).
A musical instrument of African origin, used prominently in the Brazilian martial art of capoeira.
Berimbau is usually technical/specific-cultural in register.
Berimbau: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbe.ɾɪmˈbaʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɛr.ɪmˈbaʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BERIMBAU: BEat Rhythm In Martial arts BAttles Using this instrument.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HEARTBEAT OF CAPOEIRA (The berimbau is metaphorically the heart or pulse that gives life and direction to the capoeira game).
Practice
Quiz
What is a berimbau?